**REVIEW** Fury by Elizabeth Miles

It’s winter break in Ascension, Maine. The snow is falling and everything looks pristine and peaceful. But not all is as it seems...

Between cozy traditions and parties with her friends, Emily loves the holidays. And this year’s even better—the guy she’s been into for months is finally noticing her. But Em knows if she starts things with him, there’s no turning back. Because his girlfriend is Em’s best friend.

On the other side of town, Chase is having problems of his own. The stress of his home life is starting to take its toll, and his social life is unraveling. But that’s nothing compared to what’s really haunting him. Chase has done something cruel...something the perfect guy he pretends to be would never do. And it’s only a matter of time before he’s exposed.

In Ascension, mistakes can be deadly. And three girls—three beautiful, mysterious girls—are here to choose who will pay. Em and Chase have been chosen.

 Release Date: August 30, 2011

Published By: Simon Pulse

Review Copy: Hardcover, 370 pages

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Review

  Envy was more than Greek Mythology, it was suspense filled and fringed with some horror. This had me hooked from the prologue that in itself made me hold me breath.  The eye catching cover may have pulled me in but it was the pages in between that had me hooked.  There is no doubt in my mind that it was my need to find out what the Furies plan was for Em and Chase that kept me running back to this one every time I had to put it down.

  The story is told from both Em and Chase's POV.  They are two teens that have their own weaknesses and ultimately they are what brings them down.  Em doesn't want to feel the way she does but she can't deny that her best friends boyfriend makes her feel special.  When Gabby leaves for break and Em is alone with Zach she can no longer deny the chemistry and though she knows she will regret it she doesn't feel like she can resist something that feels so right.  With Chase his demons lay in a life that is beyond his means in Ascension.  This is a life he struggles to hold onto and has done things he is not so proud of just to stay on top.

  Em was someone I both felt attached to and irritated with.  Confusing I know but sometimes her actions were just too much for me.  However I did feel for her and her need to feel special and have someone that cared.  It was her reasoning for why it was okay and how it would all work out that killed me.  Chase was a little easier to like but he was not without his faults.  Chase grew up with not much and after loosing the one person that he considered a friend to popularity he did all he could to get there.  Unfortunately being at the top when people are shallow isn't an east feat and the ghosts of his decisions past haunt him.  Things are this way for both of them for a reason and Miles played her cards well.  Em's downfall was a little harder to swallow but you can't gain the Furies attention by being good right?

  The Furies were not up front and center characters in this one.  So if you are looking for a book that focuses solely on them you would have to look elsewhere.  Instead they were intricately woven into the back of the story and they each had their purpose.  Ty was placed into Chase's life and though he feels his heart beats for her it is clear she is there to undo what he has always worked so hard for.  With Em it was a little less clear because the Furies seem to toy with her and when it comes down to it she makes a choice that may or may not be for the best.  I would be lying if I said that I thought the Furies were reasonable because they are not.  To an extent I thought that they went above and beyond on their punishments but who am I to judge?

  Elizabeth Miles has created as brutally honest and thrilling novel.  She does not try and glamorize the Furies into something that they are not.  As the reader I ended up feeling for the characters that were singled out by them but at the same time I understood why they were.  Did this make their judgement and punishment okay with me?  Not really but if they walked away without anything that wouldn't have been true to the Greek Furies we know.  There is touch on the suicide subject and some light sexual scenes but nothing I would consider over the top.  Fury was a wonderful start to this series and I will admit the end has me excited to start the next book!

Quotes

But she could only picture herself walking in on one person's arm.There was no way around it: Em had fallen for her best friend's boyfriend.

He was not trailer trash.  Ty didn't think he was trash.  He wasn't going to mess this one up.  He wouldn't let Ty slip through his fingers.

A worming feeling of discomfort began working in Em's stomach.  She wasn't exactly in a mood to defend Chase, but still, the photo-and the fact that it had been so widely circulated-really bothered her.  Weren't people allowed to have secrets anymore?

He didn't wait for her answer.  He shoved his hands in his pockets and squared his shoulders like her was gearing up for a tackle.  He was going to meet Ty, and he had a feeling this would be their last play.